Dieter Langewiesche is undoubtedly one of the ‘big shots’ among German historians today. The Tübingen professor is not only a distinguished scholar, whose outstanding work has been recognised with the Leibniz Prize. He has also been a long-serving member of the Wissenschaftsrat , a seasoned board member of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and, as one of the founding deans of the University of Erfurt, heavily involved in university reform and the Bologna process. If he publishes a book on ‘historical thinking today’, many historians will listen up and read what he has to say. And the slim volume will not disappoint its readers, as it is full of interesting reflections and insights, which are broadly divided into three parts.